Sucker-rod lifter



No. BIL4I7. Patented Sept. 27, I898.

" C." F. BICHEY.

SUCKER BOD LIFTER.

(Application filed Apr. 12'. 1598. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 6Il,4l7. Patented Sept. 27, I898. C. F. RICHEY\ SUGKER BOD LIFTER.

(Application filed Apr. 12, 189B.)

Nrrn TATES rrrc.

PATENT SUCKER-R OD LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,417, dated September 27, 1898.

Application filed April 1 2, l 8 9 8.

T0 00 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FLETCHER RICHEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, Venango county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sucker-Rod Lifters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates generally to appa ratus employed in operating oil-wells and the like, and especially to devices for lifting the sucker-rods when they require to be withdrawn from the wells for examination and repair of the valves or for other purposes.

The main object of the invention is to reduce the labor and avoid the difficulties now involved in disengaging the lifters from the rods and to facilitate the work of hitching the lifters to the rods before beginning to elevate them from the wells. I accomplish these objects by my invention, and one effective speciiic form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described ,in the following specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved elevator or lifter. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the rod-clamp turned so as to show the means for automatically opening the jaws of the clamp to release the rod. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rod-clamp, the arms of the lifter being sectioned. Figs. 4 and 5 are views of the device in perspective, the purpose being to show how the rodclamp is automatically released from the rod.

Referring more particularly to the first three figures, A A denote the arms of the lifter, in the ends of which the rod-clamp is journaled. These arms are spraddled apart the length of the clamp and are pivoted together at a some distance above the clamp.

' Upwardly from this pivot the arms are provided with or formed into handles B 13, respectively, these handles being arranged at an angle to the arms, but approximately parallel with each other. The handle B is extended upwardly above its fellow B and is provided with a swivel S at the end for the attachment of the rope by means of which the device is raised. Obviously the handle 13 Serial No. 677,332. (No model.)

might be thus extended and the swivel attached to it, in which case the handle B would have the construction that B has in the form herein shown.

The rod-clamp is denoted by the letter C. It is journaled as a whole in the lower ends of the arms A A,the opposite ends of the clamp having journals 0 and the ends of the arms A A having cylindrical bearings to accommodate them. This clamp is composed of a fixed and a movable jaw, the latter b be ing pivoted to the former at and by means of the bolt or rivet d. Projecting rearwardly from the movable jaw is a heel extension 6, which, as the arms A A and the clamp C are capable of rotation with respect to each. other, is engaged by a projection or shoulder f on the arm A, and the movable jaw thereby opened away from the fixed one.

The object of pivoting the arms A A together is to enable them to be opened or closed at their lower ends, so as to lock or unlock the movable jaw b of the rod-clamp C to the fixed jaw, and to provide for this I make the forward end of the movable jaw shorter than the corresponding end of the fixed one, as best shown in Fig. 2, so that when the arm A is moved away from its fellow Athe movable jaw 17 will be withdrawn from the bearing in the end of the arm, and thus the jaw be free to open when the projection f on the arm A strikes the heel extension 6. When the jaws of the clamp are closed, the shorter end of the movable jaw fits into the bearing in the arm A and the jaws are firmly locked together and must be unlocked by the opening of the arms A A before they can be opened by the projection f or any other force.

So long as the arms A A are kept closed the jaws of the rod-clamp are locked together and cannot be opened. When, however, the arms are opened, the clamp-jaws are free. The opening and closing of the arms A A is controlled by the handles 13 B, respectively, the closing of the handles causing the arms to separate and the separation of the handles bringing the arms together. In order to have a neat and convenient connection for the handles, the one denoted by B is provided lengthwise with a recess 9, which is clearly indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 of I the two are folded together.

and adapted to close within this recess when Housed within the recess is a spring h, whose free end bears against and tends constantly to separate the handles, the purpose of this spring being to keep the arms A A of the lifter normally closed, at which time, as has already been explained, the jaws of the rod-clamp are also closed. In order to prevent the accidental opening of the arms A A and the untimely release of the sucker-rods from the rod-clamp, I provide a stop L, which is here shown in the form of a link, that is pivoted at one end to the handle B and is adapted to rest upon the squared end of the handle B, as shown in Fig. 2, when not in operation and to fall into a notch n cut in the end of Hand hold this handle away from B when in action. The operation of the spring and link is so clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 that no further description is necessary.

Such is the construction of my rod elevator or lifter and the arrangement of its several parts.

I do not deem it necessary to describe the general operation of lifting a line of suckerrods from a well or the manner of restoring them to place, as these are familiar methods with oil-well workers. It may be explained, however, that the main advantage of my construction lies in the ease and readiness with which the lifters may be disconnected from the rods when their weight rests on them at the upper end of the tubing. It is common to provide wells with devices for the especial purpose of raising and supporting the weight of the rods while the lifters are being detached; but with my device no such appliance is necessary, as the arms A A and B B give the projection f sufficient leverage on the heel extension e of the movable jaw 19 to open the rod-clamp easily and quickly when the lifter is unhitched from its rope and turned into horizontal position, even though the full weight of the rod or rods hanging in the well rests upon the clamp.

Another advantage my lifter has is the ease and readiness with which it may be connected to the rods as they are being lifted out, it

being only necessary to close the jaws of the rod-clamp around the neck of the rod, when the arms A A automatically close by springpressure and lock the jaws together, the link L at the same time falling into the notch 77, and acting to hold the arms against accidental opening, and of course effectually preventing the release of the rod from the jaws of the clamp.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure, is-

1. The combination of the arms A, A, pivoted together at a, and having the upwardlyextending handles B, B, respectively, one of said handles having a recess adapted to receive the other, a spring 7?. housed within the recess and operating to close the arms, anda gravity-stop L adapted to prevent the accidental opening of the arms.

2. The combination of the arms A, A, pivoted together at a, the clamp G j ournaled at its ends in the arms and having a fixed and a pivoted jaw,adapted to be opened and closed by the opening and closing of the arms, the pivoted jaw having a heel projection, and one of the arms A, A having a projection or shoulder which engages the heel projection to open the jaw when the arms turn with respect to the clamp.

3. The combination of the arms A, A pivoted together at a, and having the upwardlyextending handles B, B, respectively, and the clamp 'G j ournaled at opposite ends in openings in the arms, the movable jaw of the clamp having a heel extension adapted to be engaged by a projection or shoulder on the corresponding arm to open the jaw when the arms turn with respect to the clamp, and the free end of said jaw adapted to enter the opening in the opposite arm when the handles are separated, whereby the jaws of the clamp are locked together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES FLETCHER RICHEY.

WVitnesses:

WM. B. GRIFFEN, JOHN L. MCBRIDE. 

